Instagram now allows users to see when friends are online

Instagram has a lot of projects it has been working on, but the social media giant’s priority has remained on the Instagram app itself. More than a billion people use the mobile app between Android and iOS, and both platforms are getting a new feature announced this week that will have good use to it.

Instagram rolled out quite a few feature updates to its app over the last two months, and isn’t stopping to give the competition a chance. The latest update isn’t revolutionary, but includes a feature that should have been present since day one which will make it easier to start-up a conversation with somebody you know. Like Facebook, Instagram will now show you friends who are active in the app when they’re online. Your friends who follow you can see you if you’re online so long as you are friends with them, and vice versa. You will also see once someone you previously chatted with via Instagram Direct is online so that you are made aware that person can chat at that moment.

In the app, you’ll see a green dot in the lower right corner of the contact photo shall that particular person be using the app when you are. This can be good for a lot of things, but may not be for everyone. In the case you don’t want the feature, Instagram will allow you to turn it off from settings under ‘Activity Status’. The hope here is that people use Instagram more often through interaction with others using the Direct messaging feature.

The feature is rolling out server-side as we speak, so you cannot get it through the Play Store. If you don’t already have the update, you have to wait for Instagram to pull a switch for your device. Keep everything up to date and sit tight; it should arrive any day. Let us know in the comments if you see the new feature, and if so, whether you think you’ll spend more time messaging now that this feature has been implemented. Download Instagram at the link in brackets below or from the Play Store.

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Doug Demagistris is the Founder and current Editor In Chief of Droid Turf. He grew up in New York and now attends Bryant University where he is studying marketing and communication. He has been and always will be a Google enthusiast thanks to Android’s customization, flat design and exceptional integration with various Google services. Currently, Doug uses a Pixel 2 XL as his daily driver for its unique design, powerful hardware, exceptional camera, and stock experience. For shorter instances, he’ll glance at his Huawei Watch. And for more productive work, you’ll find him typing away on his Pixelbook. Doug is hopeful his productivity will make lives easier, more meaningful and help down the road.